Abstract : Two increasingly important issues for the chemical processing industry are product quality and productivity. Traditionally, offline chemical analysis has been used to monitor both. The main disadvantage of offline analysis is the loss of time due to sampling, bringing samples to a lab, and waiting for results. Obvious efficiencies can be realized by continuous online chemical monitoring. The initial investment is high, but the return on investment can be very efficient process performance. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (online and offline) is investigated and evaluated as a means to quantitatively analyze metal finishing solutions such as actual chromium plating and electroplating solutions for chromium, sulfur, phosphorus, and iron. The identical experenent was conducted at three different manufacturers of this type of instrument, and included calibration, standardization, and analysis. Although this work has a specific objective related to chromium plating and electropolishing liquid samples, much information is related to and provided for other types of samples. Chemical analysis by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is nondestructive, applicable to multiple process streams (liquid or solid), and requires no dilutions. In addition, calibration, standardization, and maintenance are minimal. For the specific metal finishing applications discussed, the resultant data do not suggest that this online monitoring technique is useful at this time, but future work may show this technique to be practical. (jg)